Tokyo’s prospect team has gotten off to a rough start. After turning in an undefeated preseason where they beat their opponents by an average of two scores, the Drifters now sit at 0-2 after two narrow losses to open the regular season. Upon announcement of prospect team rosters, the Drifters were widely considered to be a top two team that would be contending late into the playoffs, but a rough start leaves them in a hole of which it will be difficult (to say the least) to dig themselves out.
A bright spot for the Tokyo squad has been it’s defensive unit, led by defensive end Albert Ruschmann and cornerback James Gath. Through two games, the defense has allowed a total of only nineteen points, second only to the juggernaut that is the Tiburon Landsharks. The squad comes in at second place in total tackles, including first in tackles for loss, as well as first in passes broken up and tied for first in interceptions. Bizarrely, every team but one is tied for first in sacks with a total of six each (sorry, Brooklyn). With Tokyo, the six sacks have come as a united effort, with no player recording more than a lone personal sack. Gath and Ruschmann have undoubtedly shined in the defensive system put together by team general manager Bagel. Ruschmann is tied for the league lead with a whopping six tackles for loss across the first two games and his presence on the defensive line has been a major contribution towards keeping the Drifters in the game late into the fourth quarter as he terrorizes the opposing quarterback and sets the edge against the run game. Out of the backfield, Gath is already proving himself to be a lockdown corner and a future star at the position. Gath’s league leading six passes defensed and two interceptions have been of massive benefit to Tokyo through their first two games. He’s also one of only three players to score a defensive touchdown thus far. Two consecutive losses when you’ve held the opposing offenses to ten and nine points respectively has to be hard on the morale of this squad, though if they can keep their heads held high and continue to play at a high level, they stand a good chance of being able to help the team right the ship and turn the season around.
The Drifters’ offense has been another story. A squad that looked like it was firing on all cylinders during preseason, the offense has been out of sync throughout the first two regular season games. Dropped passes have been a major issue for the team thus far, as have turnovers. Quarterback Jackie Daytona leads the league in interceptions with four, including two pick sixes in Tokyo’s week two match-up at Liverpool that all but sealed the deal for a Llamas win.
After dropping two straight close games on the road, the Drifters will go into a two game home stand with a chance of revenge when they host Calgary in week three, and a struggling Brooklyn squad in week four. If the Drifters have any chance of fixing their season, it’s right now.
For a team entering the season with such high expectations, we should see a nice turnout for their home crowd who will look to be a major factor in close games as the Drifters have seemed to favor. This should only help aid the defense’s dominance and will hopefully allow the offense to get back on the right track after working out the kinks. Time will tell what’s in store for one of the prospect league’s most talented rosters.
A bright spot for the Tokyo squad has been it’s defensive unit, led by defensive end Albert Ruschmann and cornerback James Gath. Through two games, the defense has allowed a total of only nineteen points, second only to the juggernaut that is the Tiburon Landsharks. The squad comes in at second place in total tackles, including first in tackles for loss, as well as first in passes broken up and tied for first in interceptions. Bizarrely, every team but one is tied for first in sacks with a total of six each (sorry, Brooklyn). With Tokyo, the six sacks have come as a united effort, with no player recording more than a lone personal sack. Gath and Ruschmann have undoubtedly shined in the defensive system put together by team general manager Bagel. Ruschmann is tied for the league lead with a whopping six tackles for loss across the first two games and his presence on the defensive line has been a major contribution towards keeping the Drifters in the game late into the fourth quarter as he terrorizes the opposing quarterback and sets the edge against the run game. Out of the backfield, Gath is already proving himself to be a lockdown corner and a future star at the position. Gath’s league leading six passes defensed and two interceptions have been of massive benefit to Tokyo through their first two games. He’s also one of only three players to score a defensive touchdown thus far. Two consecutive losses when you’ve held the opposing offenses to ten and nine points respectively has to be hard on the morale of this squad, though if they can keep their heads held high and continue to play at a high level, they stand a good chance of being able to help the team right the ship and turn the season around.
The Drifters’ offense has been another story. A squad that looked like it was firing on all cylinders during preseason, the offense has been out of sync throughout the first two regular season games. Dropped passes have been a major issue for the team thus far, as have turnovers. Quarterback Jackie Daytona leads the league in interceptions with four, including two pick sixes in Tokyo’s week two match-up at Liverpool that all but sealed the deal for a Llamas win.
After dropping two straight close games on the road, the Drifters will go into a two game home stand with a chance of revenge when they host Calgary in week three, and a struggling Brooklyn squad in week four. If the Drifters have any chance of fixing their season, it’s right now.
For a team entering the season with such high expectations, we should see a nice turnout for their home crowd who will look to be a major factor in close games as the Drifters have seemed to favor. This should only help aid the defense’s dominance and will hopefully allow the offense to get back on the right track after working out the kinks. Time will tell what’s in store for one of the prospect league’s most talented rosters.
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